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While you might not know this, Christmas time truly can present it’s own set of breastfeeding barriers . . . from foods that are popular at Christmastime that can decrease supply, to making sure you’re taking the right kind of decongestant for a breastfeeding mama. . .

but as long as you are aware of them and go into the Holidays well prepared with a few key reminders . . . it’ll keep the stress out of your nursing relationship, so that you can focus on enjoying your Holidays!

Tip #1 Stay Hydrated

With all the yummy liquid treats we have during Christmastime, it can be appealing to pass on good old H2O for a soda at a christmas party, a sparkly cocktail, a glass of eggnog, or (can you say YUMMY?) a peppermint latte. But it’s important to remember to balance out all those delicious dessert drinks with enough water – ideally 6-8 glasses (or bottles of water) a day, in order to stay hydrated.

Caffeine and alcohol not only dehydrate your body, but both can be a contributing factor in milk supply issues. So make sure not to over-do the Christmas themed lattes and pour yourself a glass of water or 100% fruit juice at your next holiday shin-dig. Your body will retain more energy, and it will be in prime condition to continue to make plenty of mommy’s milk for your little one!

Tip #2 Take it Easy

Like I said before, the holidays can get stressful at times. Feel free to relinquish control over things like cleaning, shopping, gift-wrapping, and decorating when you need a break – put that energy into making sure to continue to connect with your partner, immediate family, and your baby.

So what if hubby does the dishes differently than you do, or if he rolls the bath towels instead of folding them flat. It’s still getting done, right? Do what you can to ease the pressure of normal duties around the house so that the extra stressors of the holiday season don’t get to you.

Tip #3 Shop Smart

And I’m not talking about Black Friday or comparison shopping for deals . . . I’m talking about planning your shopping excursions so that they are good for you and your baby.

Respect your child’s napping and feeding schedule – plan your trips accordingly, and think about places that you can nurse comfortably while you are out

If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, being out shopping for the Christmas season with your little one should not be your reason for starting to try bottles or supplementing with formula. Lots of malls have comfortable and semi-private sitting areas in certain places that you can us to nurse very comfortably.

Upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom commonly have a sitting area separate from the toilet in their ladies rooms; some that I have been to have chaise lounges! These type of places are great places for nursing your baby while out and about. They are quieter and less chaotic than the food court or random bench, and much more comfortable than the car. And your baby still gets to enjoy the comfort of mom’s breast, even when you’re out and about.

Thinking ahead to places that you feel comfortable nursing while out of the house can make a shopping trip or other activity much less stressful.

(and if anybody sees you – *GASP* – then you’ll be a beautiful poster child for the normalization of breastfeeding, with a lovely smile on your face, and a happy baby to boot)

Tip #4 Watch What You Eat

No, I’m not talking about calorie intake – though that is something to consider, with all the food that is associated with Holiday time. No, I’m speaking about specific foods popular during the holidays that really CAN mess around with your milk supply and/or the taste of your milk. Here is a short list of the primary offenders . . . not that you need to avoid these foods entirely, but just eat them in moderation, and watch out for any signs that they may be affecting you or your baby.

Peppermints and candy canes

Spearmint candies

Sage (this is a popular Turkey seasoning, but is found in other holiday recipes as well)

Parsley

Decongestants like Sudafed

Menthol cough drops

Garlic (affects the taste of milk, not supply)

Milk products (affects the taste or tolerance of milk, not supply)

For most moms, its necessary to eat large amounts of these foods in order to have adverse affects on milk supply and/or milk tolerance.

But keep in mind that you may be eating a lot of these foods when you combine them together with each other. The amount of sage flavoring a slice of turkey won’t stop you from producing milk on its own – but it’s entirely reasonable to experience a drop in supply if you use different ones in combination with one another1.

For example, you could eat turkey, stuffing, gravy, or finger foods at several different parties over the holidays that contain sage, parsley or both, then munch on candy canes with your kids during the day, have some peppermint bark with the hubby after bedtimes, drink holiday teas and coffees flavored with peppermint or spearmint in the mornings, and pop a couple sudafed and menthol cough drops per week to rid yourself of that nasty seasonal stuffy nose and sore throat – and a combination like that can lead to a decrease in your milk supply.

If your nursling seems unusually fussy during or after feedings

If your nursling pulls on your breast

If your nursling wants to nurse much more often than usual

. . . then you might take a look at what your intake of these popular holiday food items has been – because it can and does make a difference for some moms.

This type of behavior can also signal extra amounts of stress/tension in the nursling and/or mom, so think about your emotional state as well if you see these types of behaviors.

Just keep an eye out for unusual nursing behaviors, and be aware of the physical and emotional stressors that can cause them.

Tip #5 Don’t Hate, Educate

The Holidays are a social time. Friends, co-workers, neighbors, family members . . . you’ll see so many people socially over the Holidays that you’re bound to get some interesting opinions and conversations out of them. This gets even more complex when you throw a nursing mom into the picture.

If you’re visiting friends and relatives, what should you do when your baby or toddler needs to nurse?

What if someone makes a negative comment about breastfeeding or tells you you should let go a little and let your baby have a little formula so that you can have a night out?

These kinds of situations can get stressful for a breastfeeding family. The majority of Americans are badly educated on breastfeeding topics, but are very outspoken and steadfast in their own opinions. Will your nursing relationship cause drama during your holiday celebrations with friends and family?

I truly hope that you don’t have any run ins with friends and family over your choice to breastfeed for the benefit of your child – but if you do, I say the thing to do is not to hate, but to educate. Don’t get mad about comments that are false or hurtful – instead, carry some interesting facts about breastfeeding benefits around in your head, ready for times when you need to educate someone on the merits of breastfeeding and the irreplaceable benefits of a nursing relationship.

Buying into drama by becoming upset about a situation can fuel a fire so very fast. When Aunt Bernice says you’re spoiling your baby by breastfeeding on demand, or your co-worker makes a degrading sexual comment about breastfeeding at a work event, just take a deep breath, and offer some interesting and solid facts that can educate them to a better understanding of breastfeeding, why it’s important, and why you advocate for it. Not only will it save you some drama, but it’ll make a difference in the education of our nation on feeding choices.

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I hope that these tips serve you well over the Holiday season. You may not need to use any of them, or you may find yourself using all 5 during the next couple of months. Just keep these social ideas, scheduling tips, personal care suggestions, and food items and ingredients in mind over the holidays – and make good choices that will benefit you, your baby, and your family. Remember that stress, dehydration, and large amounts of caffeine, alcohol, and social drama can also contribute to a drop in supply.

The Holidays are a joyous time, filled with friends and family, decked out shopping malls, and holiday fairs, recitals, and parties. But all of these great holiday traditions can put undue stress on a nursing relationship right under your nose. With these few tips, I hope that you can continue your nursing relationship happily and easily through the Holidays and beyond!

This post has been edited from a previous version by Amy Willa

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It’s Week 49! Almost there! January is creeping up on us, and then we’ll start a New Year of fun, family, craziness, and I promise to photograph ALL of it!

Joseph and Abbey LOVE playing in the snow. Here they are catching snowflakes on their tongues! Yummy!

I have been hastily replacing Joseph’s older diapers (those that I sewed at the very beginning of my cloth-diaper sewing journey) with new ones.

While I’ve put the SBH Etsy Shop on Vacation for our Holiday get-away to Texas, I had a bit of extra time to whip up some new and adorable dipes for Joe Joe. The robot PUL print is one of my faves. Too bad I only had a small amount!

We’re saying “so long!” to the snow for a few weeks, as we travel to Texas to spend Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa and my brother, sis-in-law, and family.

Weeks 50-52 will come to you courtesy of my iPhone and Instagram, since we’ll be in Texas vacationing. . . and they actually may post AFTER the New Year.

But, what a fun journey it’s been, documenting the WHOLE year in photos!

You are growing so much and so fast, that sometimes, I wish you were a tiny baby in my arms again.

You’re 20 months old next week – and your little toddler legs are already starting to look less babyish. They’re lengthening day by day. You’ve gone from a 12 month pant to a 24 month pant in less than half a year! You’re wearing 24 month and 2T tops. Man, where did all the time go?But I’m so proud of your curiosity, your sense of nurture, and your fun-loving attitude, that I am thrilled to watch you grow into a little man right before my eyes!

I love to watch you learn new things. This week, you started vocalizing about where people and things are in space and time.

“Dada, home? No. Dada boat.” you say.

“Mama, out? Daddy home.” is another phrase you use, for when I go out of the house and leave you with daddy at home.

Two seconds into dinner, and you’re “All done!” so that you can climb down from your seat and play with the Imaginext Castle and Dragon playset that week keep in the dining area.

Animals are fascinating to you. You have a loving and playful connection with Raven “Rah-rie”, our black lab, and you and your friend Aubrey had so much fun this Fall chasing, watching, and calling out to squirrels in the trees and at the park. You also love watching our dwarf hamsters run and scurry in their tank. Although, sometimes that can get you into trouble, because you stand on the back of the sofa to get a closer look!

You love to run and play outside, and even indoors, too. Abbey likes to race with you. “Ready, set, GO!” she announces, and your little feet are pitter-pattering off, chasing your sister with admirable speed, laughing all the way! You don’t care yet whether you win or lose- you just like playing with your big sister.

When we’re driving in the car, running errands, I’ll look back at a red light to check on you, and there is your handsome little face, gazing at me with so much love. Your loving stare quickly turns into a silly little grin, and my heart just melts. I love how much you love me.

When I’m nursing you, you look up at me with loving eyes and usually take the chance to solicit a little play-time, encouraging me to sniff your toes and say “ooooh, stinky feet!” LOL. You could play that game for hours.

You also have adopted an adorable way of asking to switch sides. “Uht!” you sweetly command, and you point at my opposite breast.

You don’t talk as much as your sister did when she was your age, but you are just as adventurous and agile, teaching yourself how to climb the play structure at our neighborhood park and play, jump, slide, and bounce around on the playground with the “big” kids!

Your favorite park activities are to ride and push the merry-go-round, climb and slide on the play structure, and swing “High!” on the swings. You ask me all the time to go “Uhnd!” which is your way of saying “under” and asking for me to push you “underdog” style.

It’s so fun to hear you squeal with joy as I run under the swing and you swing up, up, up with a big smile on your little face.

As much of a brute as you can sometimes be, grabbing toys away from friends, refusing to share, or sometimes pushing and shoving. . . you really are a doll at heart, and you pick up on all the loving and nurturing actions that daddy and I use with you and your sister. I love the way that you pick up your stuffed animal or baby doll “Bahbies” (babies), hold them to your chest, and say “shhh” while you pat their backs or stroke their heads. Of course, a few seconds later, you’ll probably be chucking the same toy across the room, working on your throwing arm. But again, you’re a textbook 18-24 month old!

You understand routines and can respond to simple directions. “Let’s get ready to go” sends you running to the door and opening the basket where we keep your hats and gloves, andthen sitting on the steps, holding out your feet and wiggling your toes, saying “Shoe! Shoe!” . . . You know how to wash your hands (though if I let you do it alone, you make a giant mess), and you like to help empty the dishwasher and wipe up messes with cloths for chores.

You are just a precious, perfect, rambunctious, silly, and loving little boy, and I am so grateful to God for sending you into our family. You’ve been a blessing since you were conceived, you were a joy to birth, and now, you’re just so amazing to love. You and your sister keep me busy, no doubt! But I’m the happiest, most blessed mother I know, having the two of you clever, loving, hilarious Silly Bears in my care.

I love you, Joseph Patrick. I can’t wait to see what fun things we will learn together tomorrow, and the next day, and the next!!

This post was written as a part of the Body: AMAZING Carnival co-hosted by Jennifer of True Confessions of a Real Mommy and Amy of Anktangle. Carnival participants were invited to write about how we learn to appreciate the ways our bodies grow and change. Our posts explain some incredible ways our bodies impress and amaze us.

Please read to the bottom to find a list of submissions from all of today’s carnival participants.

Interestingly enough, my love/hate relationship with my nose is similar to that of Ashlee Simpson’s. I find it interesting that I have the same insecurity as a celeb. . . and a little depressing that she decided to undergo a cosmetic surgery in order to feel better about her sniffer.

Though she looks beautiful with a perfectly straight nose-slope, I think she was more gorgeous with her real nose.

Why I Hated My Nose

My hate for my nose is purely cosmetic. Growing up, I thought that my nose looked like a witches nose. I thought for the longest time that it was too large. Well, I guess my nose is not so much large, as it is, um, pointy? Strange? Different? Or is it, like Ashlee Simpson’s nose-insecurity, because of the bump in the bridge?

Interestingly enough, in high school, I was asked to model for a painting and drawing class specifically because of my facial profile. A lady at my family’s church had noticed my facial features (including my “ugly” olfactory organ) and approached my mother and father to ask them if she could request that I model for her drawing class because I had a “beautiful Roman profile.”

Still, after loads of people telling me that my nose was beautiful, that my face wouldn’t be my face without it, and that there was no reason to feel insecure . . . I still hated my nose. Until I started loving it.

Learning to Love My Unique Proboscis

Constantly trying to explain to myself why I don’t like my nose led me (after years of wrestling with my insecurities) to this simple thought:

My nose is unique to me, and it is similar in different ways to the noses of my ancestors. God gave me this nose – out of all the other possible genetic combinations, I got this one. And that is a truly special and wonderful thing.

My nose is a product of my mother and father, my grandmothers and grandfathers, and all of my biological relatives that have come before me. If I could see images of the ancestors in my family line, I’m sure there is one in our history that has the very same pointy, humped, quirky shaped nose as I do. And the wonder that surrounds who that person was, and thinking of my connection to all my familial ancestors and the miracle that is my comprehensive inherited facial features. . . it’s teaching me to love my previously hated schnoz.

Destany at They Are All of Me writes about releasing the negative notions she was taught about her period, and embracing it instead.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children talks about how she had to push through her pre-conditioned comfort level and found herself in a position to naturally be open and honest with her children. More great stuff from Mandy on Facebook.

Lauren at Hobo Mama is not a runner . . . but she proved herself wrong by completing a race. Keep up with Lauren’s adventures on Twitter and Facebook.

I responded by telling her that I was sorry to hear that her baby was ill, and I asked her to tell me more about it if she wanted. She did.

During our conversation, I assured her that she might still see symptoms even if she’s having her daughter abstain from cow’s milk, because the protein in cow’s milk can hang around in the body for 2-3 weeks after consumption. We also talked about human milk and that children’s digestive systems aren’t fully mature until 6-10 years of age, “which is why biologically”, I said, “it is healthiest to offer/feed a child mother’s milk until they are finished drinking mother’s milk, and their system is mature enough to have a high probability of tolerating cow’s milk.”

“We’re the only species that drinks the milk of another species” I said. “Adults usually don’t show milk protein allergy symptoms because our digestive systems are mature. That’s why you see milk protein allergies so much more in little children – because their guts are not made to digest the protein in cow’s milk.”

I went on to say that my children like to drink cow’s milk and that I have been watching for, but have never seen, any negative symptoms as a result. And I told her that I hoped that her daughter started feeling better. That was when we were interrupted, and we were instructed to stop talking about the subject of milk and human digestion.

I asked the instructor why she wanted us to change the subject and she said:

“There is a child here ( she was like 13) getting her hair cut, and her mother is offended by your discussion. She says she doesn’t want her child hearing what you are saying. It’s inappropriate.”

I said “There’s nothing inappropriate about the subject of feeding children naturally. . . ”

She motioned at my breasts and said “I did it, too, but we don’t talk about it in public. It’s an offensive discussion, and this is a school. You can’t talk about that here. You need to change the subject.”

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How ignorant and skewed is our society that a discussion about our children and their tolerance or intolerance of milk products and a little information sharing about the biological need for human milk almost got me kicked out of a beauty school?

For the record, I didn’t even say “breast”, “breastfeeding”, or “breastmilk” even ONCE in our discussion. I actually omitted those words because I know that the “B” word makes people uncomfortable sometimes. But still, a discussion of “mother’s milk”, “nursing” and “lactation education” was too inappropriate for a 13 year old child to overhear. . . and made her mother complain that our discussion was “offensive and inappropriate”

I mean, really, y’all. I went out of my way to speak about lactation in a subdued fashion during a discussion in which the biological information I gave was totally pertinent. . . and I was chastised for it.

I’m pretty sure if my friend and hair stylist and I had been chatting about the proper amount of cleavage for a holiday party or looking at pictures of Kristin Stewart’s racy red carpet dress choices, or chatting about who the hottest celebrity is, that that talk would have been deemed totally appropriate and not garnered any adverse attention.

Meet Amy

I'm Amy. Military Wife. Mother to two Silly Bears. Family advocate, and natural parenting supporter. Used to be a dancer. Learning to be a runner. . . I knit, sew, take photos, and am bit of an overachiever. I strive for balance, have a hand at cooking and budgeting, and I live for my coffee ritual at 2:00 in the afternoon. [Read More …]